Carbon-holder for electric lamps



(No Model.)

.0. M. BALL.

CARBON HOLDER FOR EL'BOTRIO LAMPS.

Patented Dec. 12, 1882.

ZId OMM N. PETERS, PhMu-Liihcgnphel, Washington, D. C.

' Uivrran STATES PATENT Orrice.

CLINTON MJBALL, ()F TROY, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JOHN B. TIBBITS,

- OF HOOSICK, NEW YORK.

-CARBON-HOLDER FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 268,851, dated December 12, 1882.

Application filed March 20, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLINTON M. BALL, of Troy, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Carbon-Holders for Electric Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of lamps in which there are two carbons placed side by side with an insulating web or blocks between them, and in which the light results from the electric sparks between the ends of the carbons. In this class of lamps there is difficulty in keeping the light in the same place, because as the carbons consume the light descends in the lamp-globe, and is at a different place when the carbons are short from what it is when new long carbons are first introduced. In consequence of this difficulty it is usual to employ short carbons, and these require to be replaced frequently.

My invention relates to a device for moving the carbons endwise between yielding metallic contact-blocks, and for determining the extent of end movement allowed from time to time to the carbons, so that the light is maintained in nearly the same position, and long carbons can be employed, so that they require to be replaced less frequently.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical section of the carbon-holder. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan at the line as. Fig. 4 is a section vertically of the carbon, spring-contacts, and carbon-socket. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the carbons in larger size, and Fig. 6 is a section of the same.

The base a is of suitable size, preferably round, and ofnou-conducting material. Upon this the vertical standards or girders I) are screwed, and at the upper ends these standards are connected by a ring, (7, of non-conducting material.

The two carbons c c are connected by a web of lime or other suitable non'conducting material, or by blocks at suitable distances apart. These carbons are known, and form no part of my invention.

The socket 0 for the lower ends of the carbons is made of hard rubber or other suitable material, and itis provided with cords i, passing over the pulleys 7t near the upper ends of the standards I) to the cylindrical weight 1, outside and surrounding the standards. This weight is sufficient to lift the carbon and to overcome the friction of the spring-contactsm, that press against the sides of the carbons and through which the current passes. These spring-contacts are to be of any suitable character. I prefer and use the sliding bolts with concave ends, that press against the outer surfaces of the carbons and are provided with springs it within the cases, that hold these bolts,

so as to press them inwardly with the desired force upon the carbons.

The wires or conductors from the source of electric energy are connected either to the outerends of the spring-contacts or else to the standards I) b at any convenient points and in any suitable manner.

It will now be understood that if no other devices than those described were used, the 0 weight I and cords would draw the carbons upwardly through between the spring-contacts until the socket of the carbons was fully elevated and brought up to the spring-contacts. The object of my invention is to prevent this, and to allow the carbons to be raised progressively from time to time as they are consumed, so that the upper ends of the carbons will remain at the proper distance above the springcontacts. To effect this object I employ a series of stops to the carbon. Said stops successively determine the height to which the carbons are raised, and the stops are liberated successively and cease to act when the carbons burn down to such stop, so that when one stop is disconnected by being burned away the carbons are raised by the weight and cords until the next stop comes into action and arrests the further upward movement.

It is usual to tie around the carbons threads 0 at intervals to keep them and the intervening insulating-web together. I make use of such binding-threads, only they are applied at small intervals-say of two or three inches apartand I provide check cords or wires, all of the 5 same length, adapted to extend from the base a up to two or three inches, more or less, above I the spring-contacts. These check cords or wires are preferably provided with books at their upper ends, so as to be connected in succession to the various binding-threads upon the carbon, so that the first or highest checkcord will limit the upward movement of the new carbon; and when its binding-thread is burned off then the second check-cord will be tightened, as the carbon is raised by the weight and cords, and hold such carbons until the second binding-thread is burned off, and so on. There being as many check cords or wires as there are bands around the carbons, they come into action successively at the same height above the spring-contacts to check the further movement, and when one connection to the carbon is burned off the check cord or wire that was attached thereto falls away, ready to be attached to the next carbon whenever a new one is introduced.

There may be loops of thread applied at the non-conducting web, as seen at s, or eyes formed in the substance of the web itself, as at s, or windings of thread, as at s", or perforations laterally through the web, as at 8 and the limiting device may be loose cords t with hooks at the ends, or they may be sliding wires with books at the ends. as at t, the operations being the same in all cases.

I claim as my invention- 1. In combination with the parallel carbons, permanently connected together, and the intervening insulating material, the spring-contacts m, the standards or guides b, the socket c, the cords, pulleys, and weight, and a series of stops, connected with the carbons and liberated successively by the combustion of the carbons, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the carbons and intervening insulating material, of means for moving the carbons endwise between the spring-contacts and limiting cords or wires, and means for connecting the same at intervals to the carbons, so that the said limiting devices will be liberated in succession by the consumption of the carbons, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 11th day of March, A. D. 1882.

CLINTON M. BALL.

i tnesses:

GEO. T. PINCKNEY, HAROLD SERRELL. 

